Daytime wetting is twice as common in girls as it is boys. About 3 to 4 percent of children between the ages of 4 and 12 have daytime wetting problems.  It is considered to be a problem after the age of five by which time it is generally accepted that bladder control should have been established.

Children with daytime wetting characteristically feel the urge to go at the last minute and may suddenly demonstrate holding postures e.g. ‘curtsey’ using their heel to stop the flow of urine.

What causes daytime wetting?

Many children who have daytime accidents have a parent/s who did too, so it is often genetic. Other common causes of daytime wetting include:

Poor bathroom habits, such as not emptying the bladder completely or “holding it” for too long. Constipation (stool in the colon can create pressure on the bladder and cause spasms, which lead to daytime wetting). A urinary tract infection.